Device foe extinguishing fires in tanks



W. F. RESCHKE.

DEVICE FOR EXTINGUISHlNG FIRES IN TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7. 1919.

1,363,271. Patented Dec. 28,192Q.

UNITED STATES,

WILLIAM F. RESGHKE, OF WICHITA, KANSAS.

DEVICE FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed November 7, 1919. Serial No. 336,323.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. RnsoHKn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Extinguishing Fires in Tanks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will onable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates generally to fire extinguishers, and more particularly to devices for extinguishing fires in tanks.

One object of the invention is to provide a device for extinguishing fires in oil tanks and the like consisting of a float adapted to float upon the oil contained in the tank and carrying a casing containing afire extinguishing compound which is expelled by automatic means when a fire breaks out in the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which is extremely simple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, one which will be efficient and reliable in operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional v1ew through a portion of an oil tank, showinga device constructed in accordance with this invention floating upon the oil contained therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the device; and,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fi 2.

In the embodiment illustrated the numeral 1 designates a hollow metal float, which may be of any suitable configuration, but which is preferably circular. Mounted upon the upper side of the float 1 is a circular cas ng 2 having therein a central tube 3 extending from the top to the bottom thereof, horizontal partitions 4 and radial partitions 5 extending from the tube 3 to the upright wall of the caslng 2. These partitions 5 are disposed betweenthe top of the casing 2 and the uppermost horizontal partition 1, the intermediate partitions 4 and the lowermost partition 4 and the top of the float 1, and the partitions of each set are disposed in staggered relation as shown in Fig. 1. The tube 3 is provided with openings which lead into the various cells formed by the partitions 5.

Disposed in each of the cells above referred to at their inner ends adjacentthe tube 3 are charges 6 of explosive material, and disposed in the cells beyond the explosive charges 6 are charges of fire extinguishing compound 7. Arranged in the tube 3 is a fuse 8, the latter having its upper end extended a considerable distance above the upper end of the tube 3 and the casing 2 and unraveled as at 9 to make it readily inflammable. Short sections 10 of the fuse 8 ex- I tend through the openings in the tube 3 into the inner ends of the cells.

In using the device abovedescribed it or a number of them are placed upon the oil a contained in a tank 7) according to the size of the tank. Should a fire break out in the tank the first flash is usually strong on account of the accumulated gases and the flame thus produced will ignite the unraveled end i the fire extinguishing compound expelled.

The fire extinguishing compound being scattered in all directions and throughout the tank will extinguish the fire.

It is to be understood that the casing may be made in as many tiers as desired and that the various tiers may be divided into as many cells as desired. Other changes may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the ap ended claims.

What is elaime is:

1. A device of the class described com prising a casing having formed therein a plurality of radial cells, charges of fire extinguishing compound disposed in said cells, explosive charges also disposed in said cells at the inner ends thereof for breaking said cells and scattering said charges of fire extinguishing compound, and an inflammable fuse carried by said casing and communieating with the explosive charges through the inner ends of said cells, sai( iiuse tending outside of said casing.

2. A device of the class described conpising a. casing having formed therein a plurality of radial cells arranged in ti rs, the cells of one tier being arranged in g gered relation with respect t: tie cells of the adjacent tier, charges oi lire e tinguishing compound disposed in said cells, plosi've charges also disposed in said cells at the inner ends thereof for breaking said cells and scattering said charges 0" 0 entinguishing compounth and an innit. inahle fuse carried by said asing and c .i A innieating with the explosive charges through fuse the inner ends of said cells, said i tending outside of said casing.

3. A device oi the class leserihed con: prising a casing, radially ndeuding npri partitions disposed in said casing and dii ing it into a number of radially extending cells, charges cit lire ertinguislline coinpound disposed in. said cells enplaive charges also disposed, in ells at the inner ends thereot tor l'rea said cells and scattering said charges cl: l guishing compound, and an inilainniahl-i fuse carried by said casing and. coininunicating with said explosive cl arg 'es through the inner ends of said cells said fuse c3:- tending outside of said casing.

4:. A device oi the class descrilxad comprising a casing, horizontal. partitions dirposed in said casing, radially c i ling upright partitions disposed between said hori zontal partitions and the latter and the top and bottom of said casing, whereby to Lorin tiers of radially extending cells charges of fire extinguishing compound disposed in said cells explosive charges also disposed in said cells at the inner ends thereof for hrealring said. cell." and scattering said lire extinguishing compound, and a fuse carried hy said casing and communicating with said explosive charges through the inner ends of said cells, said ituse extending outside oil said casing.

is device oi the class described com-- prising a hollow cylindrical casing a tube disposed centrally in Paid casing l'iorizontal i irtitions disposed in said casing, radially extending upright partitions; disposed between said horizontal partitions and the latter and the top and bottom ol said casing, whereby to form tiers oil? radially e tcnding cells said tube heino' provided with apertures leading into the i ner ends of cells, charges of lire ertinguishing (one pound disposed in said cells, aiplosire charges also disposer in paid ells at the inner ends thereol for breaking said cells and scattering said charges oi lire extinguishing compound and an inflammable fuse disposed in said tube and having portions extending through said apertures into the inner ends oil said cells said lusc exteinling outside oi? said casing.

(5. A device of the class described comprising a casing having arranged therein a plurality oi? r: dially en ending cells, charges of lire extinguishing compound dispose .l in said cells, explosive charges disposed in said cells at the inner ends thereof for ln'ealiting said cells and scattering said charges of lire entin 'uishing compound, an inllann inahle ti carried by said casing and eoninniinicating vith the explosive charges through the inner ends oil said cells, said rinse extending outside of said casing, and a l lo at upon which said casing is mounted.

in testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

said

l iILLIl-XM F. ltESCHKE. 

